High temperatures, combined with haze and poor ventilation at night, have turned several municipalities in Gran Canaria into critical areas of the most intense heat wave of the summer. The red alert for health risks remains active in eleven localities.
Maximum heat alert and risk of forest fires
In August 2025, Gran Canaria experienced one of the most extreme heat waves in recent years, with temperatures exceeding 41 degrees Celsius (30 degrees Fahrenheit) in municipalities such as La Aldea de San Nicolás, Agüimes, and San Bartolomé de Tirajana. According to the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) and the Directorate General of Public Health, nighttime lows also broke records, with temperatures above XNUMX degrees Celsius (XNUMX degrees Fahrenheit) in Agaete, Tejeda, and other inland and mountainous towns.
The situation is exacerbated by the presence of haze, which reduces visibility and traps heat, and by a flow of dry, very warm air from the African continent. This weather pattern, combined with atmospheric stability and temperature inversions at low altitudes, has generated a heat accumulation effect that prevents nighttime cooling.
The red alert for high health risk remains in effect in eleven municipalities: Tejeda, Vega de San Mateo, Agüimes, Artenara, Ingenio, Mogán, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, La Aldea de San Nicolás, Santa Lucía de Tirajana, Telde, and Valsequillo. Authorities emphasize the importance of staying hydrated, avoiding sun exposure during the hottest hours of the day, and seeking cool, ventilated spaces. Extreme temperatures are forecast to continue for several more days, with a moderate drop starting midweek.
